Improvement in sectional life-boats



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, mama-s. SECTIONAL LIFE-BOAT;

No. 189,297.: Patented Apr'1110',1877r v ZSheetr-Sheet 2. -G. BATES. I

, v SECTIONAL LIFE-BOAT. N 189,297, Patented April 10, 1877.

N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASQINGTbN, IJv C.

PATENT FEE GEORGE AT Es, or COHASSET,MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SECTIQNA L LIFE-BOATS."

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l9,297, dated April 10,1877; application filed I March 21,1 77.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE BATES, of Gohasset, of the county of Norfolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and use ful Improvementin Life-Boats; and do hereby declare the same to be described in thefollowing specitication and represented in the accompanying drawings, ofwhich- Figure l is a top view, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Fig. 3 alongitudinal and vertical section, and Fig. 4 a'longitudinalandhorizontal sectio n,of a boat in accordance with my invention.

The body of the said boat is composed of a central section, A, bow andstern sections B G, and a series of intermediate sections, D E D E. Eachbow and stern section, as represented in the drawings, is a hollowandairtight' box having a wedge-shaped form, as shown..

It is so adapted to the next adjacent intermediate section E as to becapable of being slid or moved into and out of such, as a drawer is intoits case. So each intermediate section E is similarly arranged with andapplied to the next intermediate section D. The sections D D are also,in like manner, adapted to the midship or middle section A. The sectionsare furnished with horizontal and vertical shoulder pieces or ribs a. ab 1), formed and arranged as represented. These ribs serve to limit theoutward movements of the bow and stern and intermediate sectionsrelatively to each other and the central section. The surfaces of theseshoulders or ribs, which are to come together when the body is fullyextended, may be lined with india-rubber, or other proper elastic andwater-proof material, in order to make water-tight joints between thesections.

Each end section and the next adjacent set of intermediate sections,arranged as represented,are to slide together, and into the centralsection, in a manner analogous to that in which the tubes of a telescopeslide together.

Furthermore, for keeping the body in one extended state, I use removablebraces F F, formed or provided with shoulders c c, as represented, suchbraces being. placed on the floor of the body, and extended each wayfrom its middle, or a cross-partition, d, there placed to the 'two bowand stern sections, all as shown.

Each brace may be made in two or more lengths, connected by hinges, inorder for the brace to be folded into less compass or length than ittakes up when fully extended and in use.

Each brace, when in place, goes between projections g 9, extended upfrom a plate, h, there being such a plate and projections to each of theintermediate sections, and arranged therewith as shown. The projectionsg 9 not only serve to maintain the brace in position, or from slippinglaterally out of place, but they answer as stops to limit the inwardmovements of the movable sections.

To the opposite outer sides of the middle section A air-tight boxes orfloats G G are fixed. These floats may be applied so as to be capable ofbeing removed from the said sides; but I prefer to have them immovablyfixed to the sides.

To the bow and stern sections and the intermediate sections separablefloats or air-tight vessels or boxes H H H H, formed as shown, areapplied,they being arranged with the several sections, in manner asrepresented. These separable floats, as well as the fixed or middle onesG G, are provided with latching-hasps I, hinged to them, and formed asshown. When turned down on the upper surfaces of the floats, the claspsare to receive in their openings the upper projecting ends of thevertical ribs b I), such ribs, for such purpose, being extended a shortdistance above the sections.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the separable sections, showingit as provided not only with the locking-hasps, but with tenons or studs1' 1;, extending from its larger end and inner side, such studs being toenter corresponding mortises or holes 70 made in the mouth-sections.Each float H also has a slidebolt, 1, on its outer side and at itssmaller end, to engage with a hasp or staple, m, projecting from thenext adjacent end section.

A boat made as described may have its sections folded together, so as toreduce the whole into a very small compass, in order to have convenientstowage or transportation of it. When required for use, the boat caneasily have its body extendedor drawn and forced out, and

the, movablepfloats applied and fixed thereto.

'1 claim as my invention as follows:

1. The folding boat-body as composed of the central and end andintermediate sections, provided with the sho ulder-ribs,and constructedand arranged substantially inina'nner and to operate as specified.

2. The series of,fixed'and detachablefloats,-

provided with looking hasps or devices, as described, in combinationwith the boat-body composed of the central and end and intermediatesections, constructed, arranged, and

furnished with shoulder-ribs, all substantially as set forth. a

3. The combination of the separablelongitudinal braces with the:boatbody"composed of sections, constructed and arranged or""applied asspecified.

4. The combination of the series of projections 9 h with the sectionalboat-body, as described, such projections being for use with the braces,and to serve as stops to the sections, as explained. A eEoBATEs.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. R. SNoW.

